Am I being petty that this bothers me?

[Tai Goo]

I think I remember reading somewhere a long time ago, that a little copper in the alloy enhances low alloy steels (or makes them act more like higher alloys) and has a similar effect as carbon. Don't know for sure if that's true or not, but it could help explain why they (RR spikes) seem to perform a little better than expected with such low carbon content.

Anyone else ever heard anything like that?

I once tested some un-marked spikes with an acid bath (using fresh acid) and they all came out copper plated given time.

(Forgot to mention a buddy of mine quenched some HC spikes in water and had them Rockwell tested at 50-52... not conclusive by any means, but kind of hard.)

Definitely not “high performance” by today’s standards, but classically it probably would have been considered a pretty useful toolish/weaponish piece of metal.

They also seem to be deeper hardening than most of the 10xx series steels...

I think it’s interesting stuff. I guess that makes me sound like more of a nerd than a snob,… especially sitting behind this twerpish computer with nothing better to do at the moment.

[bladsmth]

Now, spikes are a source of "found" steel that makes sense. RR spikes are reliable, available, and workable.

Even though the vast majority of spikes are driven by track laying machines, the image of a long row of swarthy men swinging 9# hammers is part of the mystique of spike art pieces.

I especially like to make Frederick's crosses.

(F,C,F,Dm7,repeat) Oh, John Henry when he was a little baby,.....Sittin' on his Pappy's knee,......... Hit it Tai. Lets see a youtube of ukulele John Henry video.

[Tai Goo]

... About the only time I use RR spikes is,... to make RR spike "novelty" knives.

Some knife nerd skinned, gutted and butchered a hog in the field with one of mine once... just needed sharpening afterwards... go figure?

Who'd have thought?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlc...eature=related

[Kentucky]

We have made a butt load of RR spike knives from HC spikes..I was pleasantly supprised at how hard they would get in a super quench solution..Sold a lot of them at craft fairs and such for gifts..One guy told me he skinned and dressed a deer with one without having to sharpen it..Nothing to brag about in the custom knife world at all but to a guy who was use to $10 flea market knives I suppose it was.. I know people who have had them tested at about 50RC..Lots of RR employees and miners around here..They are popular for gifts and stocking stuffers..Kinda fun to make too..

[Tai Goo]

... A knife is a tool,... therefore, RR spikes are tool steel.

"HC" spikes are "high carbon" tool steel.

I get it.

(I totally get it!)

I've split a few toads in my day...

[Tai Goo]

Unhardened spike vs. hardened spike:
(Makes a decent cold cutter.)




(Kind of toolish/foolish)

One of mine

[Ed Fowler]

That is real fancy Tai: One of these days if we ever meet I will show you how to develop my secret Penzoil Damascus RR spike blade.

[Tai Goo]

Thanks Ed. I'd love to see that.

Oddly, I've probably gained as much or more recognition from my RR spike knives as I have from anything else... even canola.